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Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

FAFSA: Who Uses the Submitted Information?

What happens to the information we submit in our FAFSA application? Which parties use that information (e.g. colleges, government, etc.) and for what purposes? I want to know how my financial information might be utilized beyond just determining my financial aid package.

a year ago

The information you submit through your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is primarily used to determine your eligibility for various types of financial aid, but it is also shared with several parties for different purposes. Here's a breakdown of how your FAFSA information is used:

1. Federal Government: The U.S. Department of Education uses the information you provide to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which helps determine your eligibility for federal grants, work-study funds, and student loans. In some cases, they may also use the data for research and policy analysis.

2. State Governments: Your FAFSA information is shared with your state's higher education agency to help determine your eligibility for state-based financial aid programs, such as state grants and scholarships. States may also use this information for research purposes and to develop and evaluate their financial aid programs.

3. Colleges and Universities: The schools you list on your FAFSA receive your financial aid information and use it to determine your eligibility for school-specific financial aid, such as institutional grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities. Colleges may also use this information to assess the financial needs of their overall student population, which can influence their budgeting and resource allocation decisions.

4. Other Educational Institutions and Programs: If you apply to certain specialized programs or education-related services, such as educational opportunity centers or scholarship organizations, your FAFSA information may be shared with them to help determine your eligibility for their programs and financial support.

5. Authorized Third Parties: In some cases, your FAFSA data may be shared with authorized third parties for the purpose of research and analysis, audits, or evaluations of federal and state financial aid programs. However, these entities are required to protect your personal information according to strict federal and state privacy regulations.

In summary, your FAFSA information is primarily used to determine your eligibility for various types of financial aid from federal, state, and institutional sources. However, it may also be shared with other educational institutions, programs, and authorized third parties for research, analysis, and evaluation purposes. It's important to ensure that you provide accurate and complete information on your FAFSA, as it can directly impact the financial aid opportunities available to you.

a year ago

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